Traffic Signal Volume Counts from SCATS Loop Detectors

Traffic volume data aggregated into 15-minute periods from loop detectors at traffic signal sites. The dataset is sourced from the SCATS system, where vehicle passages activate detectors installed in the road surface. It is provided by the Department of Transport and Planning and was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Model traffic flow patterns using 15-minute aggregated volume counts from loop detectors.
• Analyze site-level congestion by examining volume data from up to 24 detectors per traffic signal location.
• Correlate vehicle activation pulses from road surface loops with signal timing or external event data.

Strengths

• Data is aggregated into consistent 15-minute time periods for temporal analysis.
• Sourced from the authoritative SCATS traffic management system used by the Department of Transport and Planning.
• Provides per-lane traffic counts from individual loop detectors installed at each site.

Limitations

• A maximum of 24 volume detectors are available per site, which may limit granularity for large intersections.
• The exact number of rows, sites, and temporal coverage is unspecified in the provided input.
• Data structure and specific column names are unknown, requiring schema discovery upon download.

Provenance

Source

Department of Transport and Planning via data.gov.au.

Collection Method

Collected from SCATS system loop detectors installed in road surfaces, activated by passing vehicles.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated March 2026, indicating recent maintenance.

Geography

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